If unlike us you are not already excited by the idea of hitting the slopes this season, here are a few things to get you in the spirit:
• It's been snowing all over Europe.
• More snow is forecast throughout the week.
• Just 1 week until the opening of most European resorts.
• The Winter Olympics take place in Italy this season.
• Half price ski holidays at Christmas and New Year.

Europe enjoyed a fantastic weekend of heavy snowfall and it looks like it is here to stay with more snow forecast for the coming week.
Switzerland is anticipated to accumalate the heaviest of the snowfall, improving the conditions of all its newly opened resorts, including Saas Fee where powder is already
predominant throughout the open area. Skiing down into the village is now possible in the Italian resort of Cortina,
which
received 30cm of new snowfall and more is
on its way. The French resorts of Tignes and Avoriaz both had snow over the weekend and are reporting that fast skiing is available on the piste. Many French resorts
are opening next weekend and with snow forecast throughout France, it looks like it is going to be a great start to their winter season.

The first race of the World Cup Downhill proved compelling viewing over the weekend with Austrian Fritz Stobl, who started 14th after training, becoming the surprise winner of the competition. Hermann "The Herminator" Maier finished 4th with a time of 01:41:39, whereas American Bode Miller came a disappointing 14th and Beeny Raich, another pre-race favourite failing to finish, after slipping into one of the gates. Next Sunday is the Super G race in
Vail.